Thursday, 3rd February 2011 at 16:01

It’s a big year for renewals at Disneyland Paris, as the resort heads towards its 20th Anniversary and the time comes to start refreshing some of those original developments — particularly the hotels. Undergoing a huge renovation project of its 1,011 rooms is Disney’s Sequoia Lodge, where the changes go a little further than just new flatscreen, digital TVs to replace the positively ancient old tube boxes. The sedate, Antoine Grumbach-designed hotel is being “Disneyfied” with a lightly-spread new theme: Bambi. The 1942 Disney classic can now be seen in the wallpaper border and animation art on the walls, perfectly complementing the existing light fittings with their deer motifs.

These photos posted on the official Disneyland Paris Twitter feed show the makeover to be a warm and inviting refresh, with crisp white bedspreads and “Disney” additions that are inoffensive to the American national parks theme, in the same restrained style as the Disney touches over at Disneyland Hotel. The new television cabinets have been specially designed for the hotel while green and gold tones bring a more earthy, organic look compared to the old rooms.

With Pixar Animation Studios’ Cars continuing to be featured in similar touches at Disney’s Hotel Santa Fe next door, where will the “Disneyfication” of the Disney Hotels be seen next? Back in 1992, then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner was keen for the six main hotels to be seen as architectural statements as much as magical, “Disney” places to stay. Now, 20 years on, the resort is seeing the need to add characters here and there and — probably more crucially — update the décor and room services to compete with partner hotels and help to justify the leap in price up to a more “Disney” Disney Hotel.

Phew! what a relief! i was hoping they’d do something subtle like this, but bracing myself for some garish monstrosity. thankfully this looks nice and it is definitely time the rooms had a refurb- they were looking a very tired before. but its a shame to see the old patchwork style gone (though it definitley wasn’t to everyone’s taste). – turns out the bambification wasn’t a bad idea afterall :-)

OMG You’re in the most fantastic place EVER and you’re worried about whether they will put in BBC & ITV channels!!!!!
Personally I hope that they don’t. The whole idea of going on holiday is to get AWAY from TV.
The only TV I wanna be watching is whilst inside certain restaurants and then only to watch Disney cartoons….

In company filings publications they point towards another new Disney Hotel or Partner Hotel under design. Don’t look towards a new Disney Hotel because theres no money unless TWDC buys it and leases it back to the group. A new Partner Hotel is more likly as this would be financed and run by third party and their is still room for 2 hotels both sides of the Explorers Hotel.

Thanks for the great photos. I know that Yosemite lodge has been refurbished, but not sure about the other four lodges or main building.
I love the new decor – glad that it is subtle and in keeping with the hotel.
We never watch much TV there either, although I did watch Dr Who Christmas Specials in French on my January trip, in the early hours!Too filled with adrenalin to sleep, as usual…….

Hi,
Can anyone give the latest update on the Sequoia rooms refurb please?
I have heard that the 5 lodges have been completed and are still being classified as Montana rooms, but wondered how refurb is going in the main building, and when they are likely to be Montana rooms again.
Also if anyone has any news about room refurb in the Newport Bay, as I was told that this would begin after Sequoia, or when it was nearly completed.
Thanks.

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